Espritpatch

 80%! The quilt along is long finish and I'm lagging behind but at least I'm still behind!!  I made block #20 this last week, after weeks not turning my machine on. I was hoping to make more than one block but a migraine on Friday decided otherwise. So here it is block 20: And with block 20, I can finish row 4! 5 more blocks and I'll have the top finished. Linking to  Design Wall Monday ,  Midweek Makers ,  Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Needle and Thread Thursday ,  Put your foot down ,  Brag about your Beauties ,  Off the wall Friday ,  Patchwork and Quilt Céline 

  Yes I know, another new project... but (!) this one is all about using my scraps, what's not to love. And the instructions come in German for the  Ravenbrook Scrap Quilt Along .  The first 3 blocks are made of rectangles and I used only scraps to make those (I can't really say I have made a dent in my scrap basket either actually...) I picked green as the focus colour for the blocks since this is the January colour for the Rainbow Scraps Challenge organised by Angela I joined the challenge years ago but hadn't participated in recent times. Of course it would be tempting to start yet another project but I think using my scraps for this quilt along in the set colour of the month is a safer plan. Linking to  Put your foot down ,  Brag about your Beauties ,  Off the wall Friday ,  Can I  get a Whoop Whoop ,  ScrapHappy Saturday Céline

  Of course I need a new project like I need a hole in my head... but I might have joined a quilt along... or three! I quite liked the first block Edyta Sitar posted for her Birthday Quilt 2024 . I checked my stash to choose some fabric and I decided it would be a good opportunity to break into the Obi bundle by Hyokka Ryoran from Quiltgate that I bought nearly 10 years ago on Massdrop/Drop without any specific projects in mind. I started just a little late but I am happy that I am all caught up just ahead of block 3 coming out this Tuesday. First block was a simple star Second block is below I am happy to report that I have been able to spend some sewing/crafting time 5 out of 7 days last week, keeping the motivation with  15 minutes to stitch with Kate . Linking to    D esign  Wall Monday ,  Midweek Makers ,  Wednesday Wait Loss Céline

  Another quilt-along that I started years ago (in 2012) and that has never been picked up again. Just Take 2 blocks were released twice a month by Brenda Papadakis and the quilt was supposed to be made in 2 colours. I duly started in January 2012 and made a few blocks during the first half of that year and then it was parked for later...  There were lots of different techniques in the quilt, including a big applique block (Hawaian if I remember well) that I never found the courage to start. Another bag that I have emptied last week and sold on to someone else. I had a lovely message from the lady who bought them from me, saying she was surprised I had let go of the blocks as they were beautifully made. This was so nice to hear, and I am happy that they are getting used finally. Celine

  Another very old project... I will confess that I used to be a swap addict! The swap blocks were from before the high speed internet since they were made in 2006! The idea for this swap was to prepare some blocks with 3 raw edge hearts applique on top of each other. The hearts have an indent on the side and in the middle to be sliced up. This is a variation on the "bull eye pattern". After the blocks had been swapped, we were supposed to cut them in 4 (in half vertically and horizontally). Next step was to pick pieces from 4 blocks and assemble them together into a new heart. I had started rebuilding the blocks but not all of them. I even used some blocks to make photo album covers. I had made those in 2013 for the wedding of my son's favorite teacher and probably had one extra. You can read all about it here . When I found those blocks, I knew I would never do anything else with them so it was time to let them go and share the love. They have now found a new home! Celi...

 I had plans to work on a bag this week, but I was too tired in the evenings to do much so I decided to make more of these little blocks. Overall it has been quite a good week for this long standing UFO! I picked the blocks that had the same date as the day I was making them from any month that I hadn't yet done. I must admit I picked some easier, less intricates one as I wanted to try to make more than one everyday. Here are the 11 blocks I made this week. 11th November - 3" green 11th December - 6" pink 12th July - 3'' green 13th July - 3'' green 13th October - 3'' green 13th November - 6'' pink 14th July - 3'' green 14th August - 3'' green 14th September - 3'' green 15th May - 6'' pink 15th July - 3'' green After I realised there were 2 blocks I made twice, I spent a whole evening trying to work out which blocks I have made and which I haven't. I have now stored my blocks per month in bags so I...

  The challenge started in 2016 and I started the same year. Kathryn has repeated it every year since and I have miserably failed to make much progress really. Last year, I only pieced 5 of the 3'' blocks, just 5 tiny teeny blocks from October, that I didn't even post here. I also had a sixth one (11th October) cut out but I never managed to piece it until this week. And while I was making this one, I also did the bonus block for 1st January that was released this year. I managed to sew that one wrong 3 times before I did correctly. Twice the pinwheel in the middle was anything but and the first time I even had some of the pieces with the wrong side up... You know when you think, I should really go to bed... oh but I'm nearly there, I'll finish this first. Yes exactly... And I also cut the block for December 31st, which is a 6'' one with mitered corner and covered corner. I misread the instructions on this one so there was some unpicking there too. And now ...

  Another long-time UFO that has been rehomed... the triangle blocks. These blocks came from the Simply Solids bee in 2013 (!) , I guess this was hosted on Flickr at the time. The theme was to make blocks with only solid fabric (obviously). I asked my fellow bee members to make triangle blocks in either cold or warm colours. When I found the blocks again earlier this year, I had 19 of them, about 18' on the side and 16' in height but they were not all the same size. I guess some could be trimmed or other made bigger quite easily.  They look nice all together but I don't think I'll ever do anything with them in the end. So I decided to part with them and let someone else put them to good use. Another very old UFO which will hopefully find a new lease of life! Celine

  It was probably the easiest block to make since it was already over half done but at least I completed one more block!  Meet Fire Flower: When I picked it up, I thought I was ready to go, only to realise that I didn't have any background or black squares cut out. So that was the first step before sewing. I cut quite a stash hoping they will last me for the most of the other blocks too. The next block will be the question mark which is hardly started. Linking to  Wednesday Wait Loss Celine

For week 2 of the quilt-along, we are sewing blocks 6 to 8. 6 and 8 are mainly background fabric with a little white, whereas block 7 has one tip of the snowflake. With all the squares cut off and the HST assembled and trimmed, it goes quite quickly to make the blocks. I am happy that all the fabric comes from stash. The final week of the quilt along will be the assembly of the quilt blocks but I went a little ahead of myself with all the blocks I have made so far. Linking to  Midweek Makers ,  Peacock Party   Celine

So if I get an old abandoned project out of the cupboard, surely I can start a new one? 😄🙃😉 anyway I did start a new one! I really like the Snowflake quilt designed by Nicole Daksiewicz so I decided to join her quilt-along (there are a few quilt along that have caught my eye recently, not sure how many I'll join...) The quilt along started on Monday and I am happy that I have managed to cut all the squares this week. I am doing the scrappy option with a lightish blue background. I've also made the HST but haven't yet finished to trim them to size.  And I made the first 5 blocks, phew, I'm on track for week 1 ! Linking to  Monday Design Wall ,    Monday Making ,  Midweek Makers Celine

At the same time I am making the mini series block, I am also working on making the units for my Sewing Studio banner from a pattern by Quilt Art Designs . I always try to chain piece to save thread as much as possible so it works well to alternate sewing one mini series block with the units I need for a wall-hanging. And there are lots of them! With some very intricate/tiny pieces. I made great progress on those this month starting with 3 complete to reach 22 completed  and 5 partly done.  I still have 11 more to make/cut before I can start assembling them all into one final piece. Linking to   M onday Design Wall ,   Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Midweek Makers ,    Needle and Thread Thursday Celine

I have made it my  One monthly goal  in January to finish all the blocks for the  Vintage Kitchen quilt along  that finished in December so I thought I'd better start with those! The first block I finished this month was "COOK" which was nearly completed when I worked on it but for a few pieces.... I then made the canisters, they will need to be embroidered eventually but I will do that at a later stage. I now have 4 more blocks to finish to get the top completed but I don't have masses of background fabric left so I hope I won't run out.... Linking to  Monday Design Wall ,    Wednesday Wait Loss ,  Midweek Makers . Celine

I have fallen behind the Dear Jane sew along very quickly... I know,  no surprises there! Making the blocks is not the most time consuming part actually, it's preparing them (cutting the pieces) that takes time. And so many times I have found that I ran out of prep time before travelling so I didn't have anything to sew while out and about.  Finally I was able to finish a few blocks over the last few weeks. The first one I finished was G12, Gloriae (3 pieces, mainly reverse applique). This one had been prepared years ago The next one, also prepared years ago is I6, Viewer's Choice (6 pieces, applique) Last week I finished C8, Hani's crown (21 pieces, hand piecing) started on my way to New York and finished in hospital in Florence And this week, I finished C5, Eye of the Cyclone, in Ibiza with a mixture of piecing, applique and reverse applique, 17 pieces I only need C10 to finish Row C and I started it as I was hoping to complete Row C during my holidays b...